The feared outbreak of the Black Death in Russia has gamers praying for another lockdown after hospitals in Siberia have been closed in an attempt to stop the disease from spreading
Gamers are praying the suspected outbreak of the Black Death in Russia will trigger another lockdown. Social media users have claimed the potential outbreak has come “just in time for GTA VI” as the highly anticipated triple A game is set to come out next month on November 19.
The hopes for another Covid-19 styled lockdown come after five hospitals have been closed for quarantining in Siberia, Russia, after a woman suspectedly died after contracting the Black Death. Coupled with the hospital closures, 200 people who are believed to have come into contact with the deceased plague victim have also been quarantined and are under observation.
Despite the fears a Black Death pandemic could cause millions across the globe to die, gamers are looking on the bright side and rejoicing at the possibility of another lockdown.
During the COVID-19 lockdowns the gaming industry saw a massive surge in players, engagement times and digital sales – despite hardware shortages and development delays. Gamers have taken to the social media site X to celebrate the possibility of another lockdown coming alongside the release of GTA VI.
One social media user stated they would be “grinding GTA VI all winter because some Russians weren’t careful enough.”
Another added: “A COVID 2 emerging in Russia right alongside the GTA 6 launch”
Some were worried and feared outbreak of the plague in Russia could mess up the games release. One user wrote: “Russian plague hitting a month before gta 6 releases, of course we weren’t ever getting that game, son.”
The recent fears of a Black Death outbreak were sparked following the death of Darya Shipilova, 28, after she reportedly broke a test tube with live Yersinia pestis at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute.
Yersinia pestis is the bacterium which causes the deadly ailment. The Black Death – one of the worst pandemics in human history – ravaged Europe between 1346 and 1353, killing an estimated 50 million people.
According to the UK Health Security Agency, symptoms of the plague include fever, headache, weakness and rapidly developing pneumonia with shortness of breath, chest pain and coughing. Patients will also often cough up bloody or watery mucus.
Symptoms of plague generally develop between one and seven days after infection.
Without treatment, pneumonic plague is usually deadly. However, the disease is caused by bacteria rather than a virus and can therefore be successfully treated with antibiotics if caught quickly.
Numerous US politicians are now calling for commercial air travel from Russia to be stopped due to fears the suspected outbreak of the plague may spread.